Desalination of SeaWater Using Geothermal Energy for Food and Water Security: GCC and Sub-Sahara Countries

Abstract

Number of waters stressed countries are growing due to changes in global weather pattern and variation pattern in the rains. The most affected countries are Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) and Sub-Saharan countries like Ethiopia, Egypt, Djibouti and Eritrea. Currently nearly 70 million tonnes of food is imported to these countries and imports are expected to cross 100 million tonnes in few years. VWT (virtual water trade) is not a solution for food-energy-water security to these countries. Fortunately, these countries have huge geothermal resources, like Kenya, lying untapped. Financial institution should support the development of easily available energy sources rather than giving interim relief there by increasing the financial burden of these countries. Desalinated water using geothermal energy sources will cost